Bayda Asbridge’s “Children of War,” on view at Babson College’s Hollister Gallery from March 27 through May 18, is an emotionally moving and profoundly thought-provoking exhibition that sheds light on the often-overlooked realities of war’s youngest victims. A Syrian-British artist based in Worcester, Massachusetts, Asbridge brings her extensive multidisciplinary expertise to this deeply moving body of work. Seamlessly integrating sculpture, mixed media, and textile techniques, she crafts an immersive and evocative experience that resonates on both an intellectual and emotional level.

In modern warfare, children are among the most vulnerable. Stripped of their protective and secure environments, they are exposed to the horrific consequences of armed conflict. Displacement, the loss of home and family, and the separation from parents, on whom they depend for survival, leave lasting scars that persist well into adulthood. According to the United Nations Children’s Agency, approximately 473 million children, or more than one in six worldwide, live in conflict zones.

Asbridge confronts this painful reality, compelling viewers to acknowledge the deep and far-reaching impact of war on innocent lives. Though war may be geographically confined, its consequences ripple across generations. The trauma endured by these children becomes imprinted in their DNA, carrying its effects forward in ways that transcend borders and time.